John Jay Papers
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To John Jay from Philip Schuyler, 18 January 1779

From Philip Schuyler

Saratoga January 18th. 1779

Dear Sir

I had not the pleasure to receive Your favor of the 8th ult: until last night, pray accept my best thanks for your Congratulations on my Acquital.1

I did myself the pleasure to write you some time ago from this place and Since that from Albany were I passed the holidays.2 In the first of these letters I advised you of my Intention to resign. In the last that I had, and In both gave the reasons that led me to It.— I hope they were Satisfactory, Yesterday I received a line from General Washington of the 31st. december. You will see by the turn of the following paragraph that he Expected something like a resignation. “In a letter which I had the pleasure of writing you the 18th. Instant I requested you to take the direction of the Magazines &c. &c. which were to be prepared for ^towards^ a Certain Expedition— I should have Extended the Idea to your taking the full Command in the Northern Department but I was restrained by a doubt how far the measure might be agreable to your own views and Intentions, the same doubt Still remains but as It is very much my desire you should resume that Command I take Occassion to Signify It to you at the Same time If you have any Material Objections against It, I would not wish to preclude their Operation. If you have not You will be pleased to Consider this as an order for the purpose.”3

You will readily See My Dear Sir that I cannot with any degree of propriety take the Command he wishes or Indeed any other. I have long since Justifyed Congress for depriving me of the Command in 1777 convinced that It was their duty to Sacrifice the feelings of an Individual to the Safety of the States when the people who only could defend the Country refused to Serve under him,—but who is capable of finding An Apology for their Subsequent Conduct? for leaving me in a Situation which naturally Induced Mankind to believe that I was not to be trusted, which had a most Evident tendency to Continue nay to Increase the Clamour against me, but they were not Content to deprive me of a Command In the army they Resolved that Council learned In the law, Should assist the Judge Advocate. In the prosecution,4 this held up to the public that my crime was of a henious nature and thousands have by that very resolution been made to believe so— I believe It is not unbecoming the most August body that ever existed to make reparation for Injuries. It is not presuming In an Individual to Expect It. If the first refuses to afford It, there is danger In serving them, If the latter can tamely Submit to the most flagrant Injustice he is unworthy of a public trust. These My Dear Sir are my Sentiments, I hope they are neither Erroneous or Intemperate— I will however add that If my services Are deemed necessary to the public weal, I shall never decline giving them as a Servant of the public when reparation has been made, but wether that takes place or not, as a Citizen they shall never be witheld. Of this I shall give a most Convincing proof If any Operations are prosecuted from this quarter, such unequivocal testimony as will Induce honest men to revere my principles and cause my Enemies to blush If they are Susceptible of the sentiment of Shame— Adieu. God bless you and give you felicity. I am with Esteem, Affection and the warmest Friendship Dr. Sir Your obedient Humble Servt

Ph. Schuyler

Hon: John Jay Esqr &c

ALS, NNC (EJ: 7122). Endorsed.

2The letters from Saratoga and Albany have not been located. For Schuyler’s official letter of resignation to the president of Congress, see Schuyler to Henry Laurens, 27 Dec. 1778, DNA: PCC, item 153, 3: 396–99 (EJ: 11054).

3Washington’s letters to Schuyler of 18 and 31 Dec. 1778 are in DLC: Washington Papers, series 4; GWF description begins John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745–1799 (39 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1931–44) description ends , 8: 429–33, 469–70.

4On 5 Feb. 1778 Congress resolved that “two counsellors, learned in the law, be appointed to assist and co-operate with the judge advocate in conducting the trial.” Jonathan D. Sergeant (1746–93), attorney general of Pennsylvania, and William Paterson (1745–1806), attorney general of New Jersey, were chosen. JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1904–37) description ends , 10: 125.

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